Olympics 2012: Live Report

Gold medallist Jamaica's Usain Bolt enjoys another golden moment on the podium after his 200m win

Gold medallist Jamaica's Usain Bolt looks at his gold medal on the podium after the men's 200m final at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 9, 2012 in London

That's all on AFP's live report on a day that has catapulted America to the top of the medal table with 39 golds out of a total of 90.

China has been relegated to second place with 80 medals of which 37 are golds. Great Britain stays in third place with 25 golds out of 52 overall.

Here's a quick recap of today's action:

+ Usain Bolt stormed to victory in the 200m to seal an unprecedented second successive sprint double.

+ Kenya's David Rudisha set a stunning world record of 1min 40.91sec in the 800m.

+ In a great night for Team America world champion Christian Taylor won triple jump gold while Ashton Eaton won decathlon gold.

+ The USA also beat Japan to claim the women's football tile and won gold in women's water polo.

+ Britain's Nicola Adams made history as the first ever women's Olympic boxing champion, winning the flyweight competition, while Ireland's Katie Taylor took the lightweight title and America's Claressa Shield won middleweight gold.

Join us for more live coverage on Friday. The action's not over yet! LIVE REPORT ENDS.

2220 GMT: And our TWEET OF THE DAY from sprinter Asafa Powell on the Jamaican 200m medal sweep in a great night for his team: "Congratulations to @usainbolt for Gold, @YohanBlake for Silver and @Warren_Weir for Bronze in the Men's 200m. RT for Team Jamaica!"

2215 GMT: Well that's the end of tonight's events. Before we wrap up for the night we'll leave you with our PHOTO OF THE DAY: Usain Bolt enjoying another golden moment on the podium after winning the 200m final -- and the sprint double for a second consecutive Games.

Tazegul adds Olympic gold to his world title and wins his country's first gold medal of this Games.

Terrence Jennings of the United States produced a head kick in the final second to beat Diogo Silva of Brazil for bronze. Afghan Rohullah Nikpah claims his second career Olympic bronze after that upset for Britain's Martin Stamper.

2155 GMT: TAEKWONDO: There's just one more medal to fight for on tonight's Olympics programme and that's happening now in the final of the men's under-68kg taekwondo category.

Turkey's Servet Tazegul is leading Iran's Mohammad Bagheri Motamed 5-3 as they head into the final round.

2148 GMT: BASKETBALL: Unbeaten France advance to the women's basketball final with a 81-64 win over Russia, booking a championship showdown against the USA.

Jim Slater describes the final moments of the match: "At the end, France captain Dumerc is dribbling the ball and dancing as the last seconds tick off the clock. She sets the ball on the court and joins her team on the court in a group hug just as the last second ticks off the clock.

"Let the celebration begin! 81-64 France over Russia and into the women's basketball final for the first time in Olympic history."

AFP's Barnaby Chesterman, following the action, said earlier: "Rohullah Nikpah of Afghanistan had been popular amongst fans up until now but he has few friends in a very partisan crowd now that he's fighting Britain's Martin Stamper for bronze!"

2128 GMT: BASKETBALL: France looks set to beat Russia in the semi finals of the women's competition -- It's 70-56 to the French with minutes to go.

AFP's Jim Slater, following the action, reported earlier: "French captain Celine Dumerc comes off the bench after two early fouls and sinks a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter and give French a 59-51 lead over Russia with the winner to face USA in Saturday's gold medal match.

"The loser plays for bronze against Australia. Russia has taken bronze at the past two Olympics."

2123 GMT: HOCKEY: While we've been engrossed in the action on the track the men's Great Britain's men's hockey team have been hammered on the field. They lost 9-2 to the Netherlands in their semi-final clash.

The Dutch team will meet Germany in the final after beating Australia 4-2.

In the seventh place play-off Pakistan beat South Korea 3-2 while in the ninth place playoff New Zealands beat Argentina 3-1.

2117 GMT: Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic retained her Olympic women's javelin title with a throw of 69.55 metres.

Christina Obergfoll of Germany took silver with 65.16m, while her compatriot Linda Stahl won bronze with 64.91m.

2114 GMT: CZECH BARBORA SPOTAKOVA RETAINS WOMEN'S JAVELIN GOLD.

2112 GTM: "I'm now a legend," declares Bolt after his 200m win. "I'm also the greatest athlete to live."

One person doesn't agree -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge: "The career of Usain Bolt has to be judged when he has retired... For the moment he is an icon not a legend."

2055 GMT: A great night for team USA. Gold in women's soccer, water polo and decathlon in quick succession.

Ashton Eaton only came sixth in the 1500m -- the last event of the decathlon -- finishing in 4:33.59secs. But he had earned enough in his stronger disciplines to secure the top podium spot.

2045 GMT: AMERICA'S ASHTON EATON WINS OLYMPIC DECATHLON.

The world record holder amassed 8,869 points in the gruelling, 10-discipline event held over two days, to finish 198 points ahead of team-mate and world champion Trey Hardee (8,671), with Cuba's Leonel Suarez claiming bronze (8,523).

2024 GMT: Jamaica's Yohan Blake says after claiming 200m silver: "It's great. Of course, I want to thank Usain and Jamaica. This is my first Olympics, I can't complain.

"This moment here is special for Jamaica. This is so good to get the one, two, three."

2037 GMT: The US clinched a 2-1 victory over Japan in the Olympic women's final as Carli Lloyd's double gave her country a third successive gold medal and avenged last year's World Cup final defeat against the Asian giants.

Lloyd missed a penalty when the US lost that World Cup final in an agonising shoot-out, but she enjoyed sweet redemption at Wembley with a goal in each half. Although Japan's Yuki Ogimi got one back, the US held on to secure their fourth gold in women's football in the last five Olympics.

2035 GMT: And in another success for team USA... UNITED STATES BEAT JAPAN TO WIN GOLD IN WOMEN'S FOOTBALL FINAL.

2034 GMT: The US women's water polo team beat Spain 8-5 in the final while Australia claimed the bronze with a battling 13-11 victory over Hungary after extra time.

2031 GMT: USA WIN WOMEN'S WATER POLO GOLD MEDAL.

2027 GMT: Fellow Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell congratulate his compatriots on their sweep on Twitter: "Congratulations to @usainbolt for Gold, @YohanBlake for Silver and @Warren_Weir for Bronze in the Men's 200m. RT for Team Jamaica!

Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand tweets: "What name is @usainbolt going to use from now other than #LightningBolt ?? #TheHero #TheGreatest #TheLegend #TheMan #TheDaddy #TheDon ??!"

2022 GMT: USA'S TAYLOR WINS MEN'S TRIPLE JUMP GOLD.

world champion Christian Taylor jumped a season's best of 17.81 metres, with another American, Will Claye, taking silver in 17.62m. Italian Fabrizio Donato claimed bronze with a best of 17.48m.

2020 GMT: Reacting to his win, Bolt says: "This is the one I wanted and I got it. We have been working hard all summer. We pushed ourselves, we pushed eachother."

On why the world record evaded him he adds: "I was fast but I wasn't fit enough. I could feel the strain on my back a little but so all I did was to try to keep my form."

2015 GMT: Bolt's victory means he's bettered the record of US track legend Carl Lewis, who won three golds and a silver in the sprints at the 1984 and 1988 Games.

It's also the first time two individual track titles have been successfully defended at successive Games since Finland's Lasse Viren won the 5000m and 10,000m in the Munich and Montreal Games in 1972 and 1976.

2010 GMT: So it wasn't a new world record from Bolt but, at 19.32 secs, it was a season's best.

It's certainly enough to please the crowds, and he's rewarding the adulation of the crowds in the stadium with some true Bolt showmanship.

2004 GMT: Bolt becomes the first man ever to win the 100m and 200m finals at two consecutive Games. He was pushed all the way by teammate and training partner Yohan Blake, who looked to be posing a genuine threat at one point.

But Bolt upped the pace when it mattered to leave Blake finishing second in 19.44sec while Weir clocked 19.84sec.

1954 GMT: Bolt's in lane seven, Blake in four... Also in the line-up and in contention for bronze are Jamaica's Warren Weir and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands.

You've not heard anything like it from the crowds as Bolt is announced -- deafening.

1947 GMT: And showman Bolt is on the track, sporting a Jamaican yellow basketball cap -- backwards of course.

The crowds are going wild. The cameras hone in on Bolt and Blake -- this is their race, though few believe Bolt could take anything but gold.

1941 GMT: So what can we expect of Bolt tonight? In the semi-final he eased across the line in 20.18sec so we know he can do a lot more.

It's his favourite race and asked about the prospect of him breaking his own world record of 19.19secs he said "it's a possibility, definitely".

His main danger will come from compatriot and training partner Yohan Blake, who took silver in the 100 metres and won his semi-final.

1931 GMT: David Rudisha says the balmy London summer's evening set the stage for his stunning performance in the 800m: "The weather was beautiful so I decided just to go for it."

Could the British summertime inspire Bolt to a new world record in the 200m later? He's said he can do it... Twenty minutes to go until we find out...

1926 GMT: ATHLETICS: At the end of the decathlon javelin stage America's Ashton Eaton takes a step close to gold, retaining his position at the top of the standings with just one event to go -- the 1500m.

Sergey Sviridov of Russia led Group B in the javelin with a throw of 68.42, followed by Japan's Keisuke Ushiro with 66.38. Ashton only finished third with a personal best of 61.96 but it was enough to keep him at the top.

1920 GMT: CHINA'S CHEN RULOIN WINS WOMEN'S 10M PLATFORM DIVING GOLD.

The Chinese defending champion scored 422.30 points from her five dives to beat Brittany Broben of Australia with Pandelela Rinong of Malaysia taking the bronze.

Natalia Vorobieva, 21, defeated Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva Hristova in the final in what was her first Olympics.

But it was a second straight silver for go to Guzel Manyurova of Kazakhstan and Spain's Maider Unda.

1910 GMT: Huge roars from the crowds for 23-year-old Rudisha as he waves to supporters and drapes himself in the Kenyan flag. His world record is the first on the track in these Games and he's the only runner ever to break the 1:41.00 barrier.

1905 GMT: Rudisha powered home in 1:40:01, smashing his own world record of 1:41:04 in an incredible race.

Nijel Amos of Botswana took the silver in 1:41:73, with Timothy Kitum, another Kenyan, claiming bronze in 1:42:53.

1859 GMT: Next up it's the men's 800m final with Kenya's David Rudisha the man to beat...

1858 GMT: The two fastest losers to qualify for the 800m finals are Janeth Jepkosgei -- the silver medallist in the Beijing Games who won bronze in Daegu -- and Alysia Montano of the United States, who finished fourth in Semenya's fast second heat.

The 21-year-old Semenya showed she is well and truly back on form. She had to sit out track and field for almost a year after her stunning world victory in Berlin in 2009 after undergoing gender tests, but came back to win silver in the Daegu worlds.

1852 GMT: In heat three of that 800m semi-final Russia's Mariya Savinova drives forward from third place to first in the last leg, to qualify in 1:58:57. In second place is Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi who qualifies with 1:58:67.

1843 GMT: South Africa's Caster Semenya makes a powerful sprint finish to win her 800m semi-final heat in a season's best of 1:57:67.

Russia's Elena Arzhakova also qualified, finishing second in 1:58:13.

1838 GMT: ATHLETICS: Back at the track, the women's 800 semi-finals are under way... Kenya's Pamelo Jelimo wins the opening heat to qualify along side second-place Eleni Filandra of Greece.

1830 GMT: It's been a successul two days for Japan in wrestling... Yoshida joins compatriot Kaori Icho ( 63kg category) in becoming the first women to complete a hat-trick of Olympic wrestling golds.

Nine-time world champion Yoshida takes the title for the third successive Games after defeating Tonya Verbeek of Canada who claims silver. In doing so she equals the record of 12 world-level titles held by Russia's three-time Olympic Greco-Roman gold medal winner Alexander Karelin.

1819 GMT:The women's 200m victory ceremony is currently under way, which seems a good prompt to remind you that Bolt and co. are up later for the men's equivalent (1955 GMT).

This is Bolt's favourite race and he won it in Beijing, but he's not unbeaten in it. Teammate Yohan Blake crossed the line first in the 200m final at the Jamaican Olympic trials and he was looking in good shape in yesterday's semi-finals when he slowed dramatically at the end to prove it. Could Bolt have a fight on his hands?

1811 GMT: ATHLETICS: That's Group A of the javelin done and Cuba's Leonel Suarez leads the group rankings with his 76.94m throw, bumping his overall score to 7,779.

But America's Trey Hardee managed the second biggest throw at 66.65m, which means his overall score still beats the Cuban's at 7,997.

1803 GMT: BASKETBALL: Jim Slater has more on the end of that USA-Aus contest: "Liz Cambage, who had 19 points in first half, hasn't had any for Aussies in the second half.

"Defensive changes worked and relentless scoring and pressure finally wore down Opals in the fourth."

1757 GMT: The weather's still looking good for tonight's big track events, but it hasn't been ideal for some sports.

1737 GMT: And an update on those crash-prone BMX heats earlier: Australia's Sam Willoughby and defending Olympic champion Maris Strombergs of Latvia both battled their way into the semi-finals.

Dutchman Raymon Van der Biezen finished first in all three of his races to qualify directly as did Connor Fields while Britain's Liam Phillips also qualified, finishing second behind the American in each of their three races.

In heat three New Zealand's Marc Willers and Frenchman Joris Daudet went straight through, as did Dutchman Twan van Gendt and Strombergs from heat four. American David Herman, Roger Rinderknecht of Switzerland, Willoughby and Colombia's Zabala Oquendo of Colombia are also through.

1730 GMT: BASKETBALL: First Jim Slater updates us on that Australia-US women's match: "USA up 65-59 after three quarters, Diana Taurasi hit two three-pointers in an 8-1 run to open the third and Lindsay Whalen scored six points in a row in a 10-3 USA run to end the third period.

"Should still be tight to the finish. USA not out of the woods at all -- a three-pointer by Kristi Harrower cutting it to 67-62 with 8:30 to go."

1725 GMT: Also to come in tonight's ATHLETICS session we've got:

+ Men's triple jump final (1820 GMT)

+ Men's 800m final (1830 GMT)

+ Men's 200m final (1955 GMT)

+ Women's javelin final (2000 GMT).

1720 GMT: So that leaves just two events to go in the decathlon -- the javelin -- which kicks off in just 10 minutes' time -- and the 1500m (2020 GMT).

1715 GMT: Earlier Hardee beat Eaton by two-hundredths of a second, to finish fastest in the 110m hurdles in 13.54sec. And he maintained the pressure with a best of 48.26m in the discus, which netted him 834pts compared to Eaton's 42.53m for 716pts.

But Eaton bounced back in then the pole vault, clearing 5.20 metres, with Hardee going over at 4.80m.

1710 GMT: ATHLETICS: More details on where we're at in the men's decathlon... With eight events complete, America's Ashton Eaton is leading with 7,381 points while teammate Trey Hardee is 222 points behind with 7,159.

Trailing behind the leaders are Germany's Rico Freimuth on 6,927, Canada's Damian Warner with 6,916 and Oleksiy Kasyanov of the Ukraine on 6,901.

Having lost Wednesday's semi-final bouts Marina Volnova of Kazakhstan and and China's Li Jinzi were both awarded bronze medals.

1640 GMT: SHIELDS OF THE USA WINS WOMEN'S BOXING MIDDLEWEIGHT GOLD.

1637 GMT: HOCKEY: Germany book their place in the final with a 4-2 win over Australia. They will play the winner of tonight's Great Britain v Netherlands game (1900 GMT) in Saturday's gold medal match.

1630 GMT: BASKETBALL: That USA v Aus women's match is now under way with the Aussies taking a surprise 22-20 lead after the first quarter. But Jim Slater says US fans need not panic yet:

"The USA women have 39 wins in a row at the Olympics and four gold medals in a row. The Aussie Opals have lost to them in the past three finals and now they playing very well in a tight semi-final. Liz Cambage has 11 points and Aussies are now up 25-22."

1625 GMT: Britain's Jade Jones meanwhile reaches the women's under-57kg taekwondo final with a 6-3 win over Taiwan fighter Tseng Li-Cheng. The Brit is guaranteed at least a silver medal.

1600 GMT: Adams' victory is all the sweeter being the first gold medal to be won in the women's boxing competition in its debut year. It's Britain's 24th gold of the Games and brings their total medal tally to 51.

1554 GMT: Commentators are full of praise for Adams' performance... the BBC's Ben Dirs calls it "absolutely jaw-dropping" while his colleague Sam Sheringham says the fight "was as good as it gets".

To recap on the other medal winners, Marlen Esparza of the United States and India's M.C. Mary Kom were both awarded bronze in that flyweight category after losing semi-final bouts.

1548 GMT: Huge cheers at the ExCel arena for Adams who, beaming, says: "I'm just so happy and overwwhelmed with joy right now."

But the crowds quickly turn their cheers to Ireland's Katie Taylor, who's up next against Sofya Ochigava of Russia.

1540 GMT: BOXING: Fists are flying in the inaugural women's flyweight final now between Britain's Nicola Adams and China's Ren Cancan. The Briton leads Cancan 14-5 with just one round to go to decide the first ever Olympic boxing medal...

1535 GMT: TAEKWONDO Britain's Jade Jones makes it through to the semi-finals of the women's under-57kg featherwieght category with a convincing 13-3 win over Mayi Hamada of Japan.

1530 GMT: Meanwhile in track cycling Gijs Van Hoecke has been sent home after pictures in British tabloids showed him drunk after a night out, Belgian media reports say.

It seems the 20-year-old went to drown his sorrows after coming 15th in the Omnium race on Tuesday night.

1525 GMT: Breaking news from the BMX track: The last two races went off without a crash or a tumble!

1522 GMT: "Suzy Batkovic and two of her Australian Opals women's basketball teammates are on the court now to start pre-game shootaround," adds Jim.

"Only one problem -- there are no basketballs. They've arrived an hour before the game and ahead of the people supposed to bring the balls. Here come half a dozen USA players... And after a short wait, the basketball, to a smattering of applause from the crowd."

1515 GMT: BASKETBALL: At the North Greenwhich arena, where a painful dance reverb Bruce Springsteen mix is reverberating through the loud speakers, USA and Australia are gearing up for the women's hoop semis, says AFP's Jim Slater.

"US beat the Aussies for gold in past three Olympics and can stretch their Olympic winning streak to 40 games with a win today that will put them one triumph shy of a fifth gold medal in a row."

1507 GMT: CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN WINS INDIVIDUAL DRESSAGE GOLD.

The Briton, riding Valegro, scored 90.089% to win gold ahead of Adelinde Cornelissen of The Netherlands (88.196%) who claimed silver on her horse Parzival. Bronze also goes to team GB for Laura Bechtolsheimer on Mistral Hojris (84.339%)

1502 GMT: At the BMX track riders seem to be struggling to stay on two wheels: "Another bad crash there as New Zealand's Kurt Pickard and Falla of Ecuador land awkwardly after the third jump," Justin Davis tells us. "The injuries look to be piling up here. Let's see how it affects them for the next rounds."

1458 GMT: In the men's under-68kg taekwondo competition, Britain's Martin Stamper has just booked his place in the semi-final with a 8-3 win over Damir Fejzic of Serbia.

1447 GMT: TAEKWONDO: At the women's under-57kg quarter finals Britain'sJade Jones makes a good start with a 3-1 lead over Mayu Hamada in the first round.

But the atmosphere is lacking, reports Barnaby Chesterman: "The shape of the taekwondo arena, with two long sides and no ends, is affecting the atmosphere, allowing noise to escape down the ends. There is nothing like the noise the judo arena had with it's traditional four sides enclosing the sound."

1441 GMT: This from Justin Davis, back at the BMX track: "Another two crashes in heats ! The bunch races in BMX are spectacular, but must be difficult for the racers."

1433 GMT: FOOTBALL: Diana Matheson, the Canadian player who scored the winning goal in that bronze medal match against France, says: It feels amazing. It feels unreal, it feels like a dream.

"We felt as a group that we were going to earn this and we did, in the last minute."

1426 GMT: In other OLYMPICS NEWS, German authorities say they have opened a probe against the boyfriend of German Olympic rower Nadja Drygalla on suspicion he was part of a far-right group that attacked a police officer.

The prosecutor's office in the northern city of Rostock said it was investigating Michael Fischer, who until recently was an official with the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), a neo-Nazi political party.

1420 GMT: Yet more carnage at the BMX, Justin Davis reports: " Colombian Zabala Oquendo comes down on the second last berm, Aussie Brian Kirkham crashes on top of him and both riders trail home.

"They will have at least another two races to try and get the top two places for the semis."

1415 GMT: Meanwhile, AFP's Julian Guyer, has spotted Britain's Princess Anne at the WOMEN'S WRESTLING with her husband, Commander Tim Laurence. A bit of a change from her usual equestrian haunts.

Here Saori Yoshida has started her quest for a third Olympic gold in commanding fashion. Yoshida was too strong and quick for Kelsey Campbell, defeating the American 3-0 in their last 16 clash.

1410 GMT: And there's worse to come says Justin: "What a disaster! On the first bend a mass crash takes down everyone except Kiwi Marc Willers! He couldn't believe he was racing on his own! Just goes to show the importance of pulling ahead of the field before that first berm."

1404 GMT: BMX is not for the faint-hearted... The action has just begun and Justin tells us there's already one man down: "The first crash in the first heat as Australian Khalen Young comes tumbling down before the last bend. He will live to fight another day."

1359 GMT: CYCLING: Justin Davis, down at the BMX track for the men's quarter-finals, says: "It's baking hot, the stands are full and we're about to see four heats of eight riders battle over several races in a bid to make the semis. "

Watch this space for some high-adrenalin action...

1352 GMT: FOOTBALL: CANADA take the BRONZE MEDAL in the women's competition after defeating France 1-0 with a goal in stoppage time.

1345 GMT: Hungary's Riszto, having finished the race in 1:57:38.2, says her victory will only really hit home after recovering from the exhaution: "It is really hard to understand but in a few hours I will be much more happy because I'm really, really, really tired now."

1340 GMT: For Hungary its their 25th swimming gold at a summer Olympics -- though this is the first in open water.

The United States and Italy are also first-time medal winners in this event. The US have now won 31 swimming medals at London 2012, equalling its total from Beijing 2008.

1329 GMT: Gold medallist Risztov, 26, competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics before retiring in 2005, only to return to the sport as a marathon specialist in 2009.

Home favourite Keri-Anne Payne was fourth, with the top four separated by just four seconds.

1313 GMT: One Brazilian swimmer, Pliana Okimoto, actually had to drop out of that gruelling race due to hypothermia.

"She put her hand up to be taken out of the water because she was suffering from hypothermia. She fainted when she was taken out of the water and she is receiving medical treatment. She has had previous bouts of hypothermia but never one as serious as this.”

South Africa's Jessica Roux also withdrew.

1305 GMT: So it's gold for Risztov, silver for Haley Anderson of the United States and bronze for Martina Grimaldi of Italy.

Russia are looking like the country to watch here but other countries from the former Soviet Union are also likely to put in a strong showing.

1252 GMT: SWIMMING: AFP's Tom Williams at the 10km open-water says that Hungary's Eva Risztov has made "an early kick for home with around 10 minutes to go, but (Britain's Keri-anne) Payne is in a chasing pack of four swimmers."

1241 GMT: And now Jamaica are out of the 4x400m relay after failing to finish their heat.

Usain Bolt had left it open as to whether he would run in the final -- but now the decision is out of his hands.

Jermaine Gonzalez pulled up lame halfway round the third leg.

1236 GMT: World track and field governing body the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said in a statement: "The Jury of Appeal met and agreed to advance the South African team to the final, even though they did not finish the race, considering that they had been severely damaged in the incident with Kenya.

1200 GMT: London Olympics chief Sebastian Coe is tipping Kenya's David Rudisha for gold in the 800m final tonight, reports AFP's Guy Jackson.

"But more surprisingly, Coe – who won silver medals in the event at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics – believes Britain’s Andrew Osagie can win a medal," Guy adds.

"Osagie is also a black belt in karate so should be able to handle himself if the race gets rough."

1153 GMT: SWIMMING: AFP's Tom Williams is still down at that gruelling women's 10km open water swim at Hyde Park.

He writes: "One of the most peculiar sights in the 10km swim arrives when the swimmers reach what is known as ‘the feeding pontoon’, where the competitors’ coaches dangle poles into the water with drinks precariously balanced in little baskets on the end.

"It is an exercise that requires precision and not a little care, for if a coach should topple into the water, his swimmer would face automatic disqualification."

Nice to know the swimmers get some sustenance during that long slog, though.

1148 GMT: ATHLETICS: Pistorius says he is "pretty gutted" after that disappointing end to his Olympic dream in the 4x400m relay.

"I took my eyes off the screen when he (Mogwane) rounded the bend so I didn't see what happened. I was just waiting for the baton," said Pistorius, who returns for the Paralympics later this month.

And the excitement is mounting in Afghanistan. AFP's Usman Sharifi in Kabul writes on Twitter: "Pressure on Nikpai, social media buzz with Afghans praying for the victory... a failure would be a great disappointment."

1110 GMT: ATHLETICS: More on that heartbreaking 4x400m relay failure for South Africa.

It seems that South Africa's Mogwane fell on the final bend of the second leg as Pistorius waited to take the baton.

On rounding the bend into the final stretch, Mogwane made contact with Kenya's Vincent Kiilu and both came to grief.

"Somebody spiked me," said Kiilu, who unlike Mogwane was able to get up and continue.

Pistorius put his hands to his head, walked to the side of the track and sank to his knees staring down the straight when he saw what had happened.

Mogwane received medical attention and left clutching his shoulder.

1105 GMT: Let's have a quick recap of the morning's events so far.

+ The South African 4x400m relay team did not complete their 4x400m relay heat after one of their runners fell -- meaning double amputee Oscar Pistorius is out of the Olympic Games.

+ There were gold medals for Australia, Germany and Hungary in canoe-kayak events at Eton Dorney;

+ The decathlon is continuing ahead of tonight's climax, with the US's world record holder Ashton Eaton still in the lead but countryman Trey Hardee closing in on him.

1047 GMT: ATHLETICS: South Africa have failed to complete their 4x400m relay heat, meaning they and Oscar Pistorius are out.

Ofentse Mogwane fell on the final bend of the second leg as Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in Olympic athletics, waited to take the baton.

1045 GMT: SOUTH AFRICA AND OSCAR PISTORIUS OUT OF 4X400M RELAY

1026 GMT: Talk about a golden couple -- British cyclist Laura Trott has just confirmed on Twitter that she is dating fellow British rider Jason Kenny.

"Been a little while now just didnt want the distraction before the games x" she adds.

Trott, 20, took golds in the omnium and team pursuit while Kenny, 24, won sprint and team sprint golds.

1004 GMT: CANOE-KAYAK: The full result now of that kayak K2 500m final which saw gold for the German duo Franziska Weber and Tina Dietze.

0944 GMT: Hard to believe that the Olympics ends on Sunday -- but details have started leaking out of the closing ceremony.

Its musical director David Arnold, best known for composing scores for Bond films, has told the Daily Telegraph it will be a "beautiful, cheeky, cheesy, camp, silly and thrilling" journey through British pop history.

George Michael has already confirmed he is performing, while Arnold said predictions Paul McCartney and Adele would take part were "scarily accurate."

There are also unconfirmed rumours of an extremely rare live performance by Kate Bush.

0906 GMT: ATHLETICS: Back at the decathlon, which wraps up tonight, they are into the discus.

But the US's Bryan Clay, the 2008 gold medallist who did not qualify this time round, is unimpressed so far.

"I don't think there has been a throw over 43m yet!?!? C'mon guys!" he writes on Twitter.

0902 GMT: That is a sixth gold medal for Australia at this Olympics, taking their overall total to 27.

Australia's relatively poor performance at the London Olympics has this week prompted its most senior member of the International Olympic Committee, Kevan Gosper, to point the finger at cuts in government funding.

0856 GMT: AUSTRALIA WIN GOLD IN MEN'S KAYAK K4 1000M

0848 GMT: GERMANY WIN CANOE C2 1000M GOLD

0844 GMT: TAEKWONDO: Afghanistan's Rohullah Nikpai, a huge sporting hero in the war-torn nation, is up in the men's 68kg later today.

Nikpai won bronze at Beijing in 2008, the country's first-ever Olympic medal.

He became a national hero, with President Hamid Karzai giving him a house and the government paying for him and other Afghan Olympians to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

There will be huge celebrations in Kabul if he manages to match or improve on that this time around.

0835 GMT: Today's pleasant weather could help Bolt's chances of setting a new world record in tonight's 200m final, says AFP's Guy Jackson.

"Warm, sunny and windless... If stays warm tonight I smell a new world record 200. First man under 19 seconds???" Guy writes on Twitter.

Bolt himself said after cruising through the semis that a new world record is possible on a fast London track.

0827 GMT: ATHLETICS: It's a beautiful sunny day in London and the decathlon action has already resumed in the Olympic stadium.

First event today is the 110m hurdles.

Overnight leader and world record holder Ashton Eaton of the US is narrowly beaten in the final heat by his second-placed teammate Trey Hardee, who posted 13.54.

Hardee looks pumped by that win, screaming with delight afterwards.

0818 GMT: Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete at the Olympics, was on Twitter last night looking forward to today's race.

"Thank you all for the support ahead of tomorrow, it made my day!" he wrote. "The boys are Ready to light it up! I'm off to sleep, God Bless".

But it is the US who are likely to start as favourites.

0813 GMT: Here are some of the main events coming up today at the Games, with timings:

+ Jamaica's Bolt bids to become the first man to win 100m and 200m gold in successive Olympics in the 200m final at 1955 GMT;

+ Kenya's world champion David Rudisha goes for gold in the men's 800m final at 1900 GMT;

+ After making history and reaching the semi-finals of the individual event, Pistorius joins the rest of the South African team in the 4x400m heats at 1035 GMT;

+ The US women's football team bids to make it three Olympic titles in a row when they take on Japan in the final at 1845 GMT.

WELCOME TO AFP'S OLYMPICS LIVE REPORT for August 9.

The action will be coming thick and fast today with highlights including Usain Bolt in the men's 200m final, South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius in the 4x400m relay heats and the women's football final between the US and Japan.